Reports: Manchester United favourites to sign world-class forward

What's the story?

When we just thought that it is a question of 'when' rather than 'will' Alexis Sanchez join Manchester City, Manchester United had to interfere.

City were in pole position to sign the 29-year-old when United decided to step in and make things complicated. The Red Devils are willing to offer a player-plus-cash deal for the Chilean international and that has tilted the odds in their favour.

Now, Sky Sports News understands that City have dropped their interest in the player as they are not willing to match United's offer.

BREAKING: @ManCity not prepared to spend over £20 million to sign Alexis Sanchez in this transfer window. #SSN pic.twitter.com/klZeo88sLB

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 12, 2018

In case you didn't know...

Alexis Sanchez had made it clear to Arsenal that he would leave the club and was not going to renew his contract, but the Gunners tried to pin him down to a new deal albeit in vain.

Sanchez wanted to move in the summer itself and a move to the Etihad seemed very close. However, since Arsenal were not able to get Thomas Lemar from Monaco, they were not ready to sanction the sale of one of their best players without a replacement.

The heart of the matter

The Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City saga has been going on for a long time now. It looked like the player was set to move to City in the January transfer window.

Manchester United stepped in the negotiations and are willing to offer more money and a player (believed to be Henrikh Mkhitaryan) for the Arsenal superstar.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are not willing to offer beyond £20 million as they feel that it would be too much for a player who is going to be a free agent in the summer.

United are going to do everything possible to snatch the 29-year-old away from Pep and lure him to the Theater of Dreams.

Re Sanchez. @ManCity prepared to walk away rather than pay @Arsenal £35m + agent fee. He wants to come but does want to be at Arsenal on 1 Feb

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) January 12, 2018

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Author's take

What a twist in the tale this has been. United popped up from nowhere and are now favourites to sign Manchester City's prime target. However, no official deal has been submitted yet.

The ball is in the Chilean's court. It remains to be seen whether he will choose to join the Manchester Red outfit or end up reuniting with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.